Spearhead - Plugging The Gap - 6mm Part 1

Game today with Stephen and I selected to play an old but oft neglected favourite set Spearhead with my 6mm kit (been doing a bit of tarting up bases lately) and a scenario entitled 'Plugging The Gap' set in Normandy. 

Think this is from Keith McNallys SH site and essentially a scenario based around his excellent Scenario Generation System (for SH and Modern SH).

Anyhow this sees a British Infantry Brigade (sans RASC trucks) with a Churchill Tank Regiment and a 25pdr Artillery Battalion (3 x Batteries of 2 Gun Troops) and a couple of randomly appearing rocket armed Typhoons facing a German PzGrenadier Regiment (1 Bttn in Sd251 the other in trucks) supported by a PzIV Bttn with assets in form of 2 x 105mm Artillery (3 x Gun Batteries each), 2 x Tiger1, 3 x JgPzIVf and 2 x Sd234/1 as Recce. The Hun assets can be split up or formed into an adhoc Bttn (max of 9 stands).

The Brits have weight of numbers but Germans have better attack factors and more Panzers.

Scenario is essentially an encounter type battle with both sides trying to capture the 2 towns and couple of nearby ridges with both having additional objectives to gain a major victory (PzIVs exiting and Brits taking a bridge and adjacent hill).

Stephen chose the Huns (and parceled out the Divisional assets) I had Brits (cross attaching the Churchill Companies to each Inf Bttn) so 3 Bttn formations per side and off we went.

All Bttns on attack orders in order to enter battlefield (no flank moves allowed in this scenario) with Brits coming on on West and Southern edges (not quite up to half way on each) and Huns from Eastern edge.

Jabos appeared early and targeted 6 Tanks over the 2 sorties managing to kill a PzIV but otherwise ineffective.

Once formations came into spotting ranges (SH cleverly uses spotting to allow flexibility or change of orders but constrained by firing ranges) formations began to deploy with my 3 Bttn formations gaining their initial objectives (2 Hills and northern town) whilst Huns grabbed the other town.

It soon became apparent that the German Panzers have a significant advantage over the Churchills being able engage at 18" compared to Churchills 12" so can stand off and ping enemy with impunity.

8 of my 12 Churchills are VII types so good armour but one Squadron is Mark IVs so lesser armour and poorer gun (6pdr AT factor is 1 less than 75mm which is maybe a bit off) and 2 of the MkIVs brewed quickly. 

I also took casualties to my infantry from German indirect and PzGr fire whilst inflicting only a couple of suppressions in return.

The Armoured PzGr in Sd251 are tough to deal with as Inf cant target them beyond 3" (Inf AT range) but the APCs fire out to 9" (those damn MG42s).

We failed to finish the game (played 5 out of 14 turns) mainly as we got a bit confused as to how continuing artillery stonks/adjustments work (both a tad stale on rules knowledge as last played December 2023) so left in situ to complete next week.

Table prior to forces entry. Brits appear from left corner and Huns from right edge

British have invested ridge and town objectives but being picked off from range by Hun armour. (Yellow puffs are Suppression the other colours are artillery targets) 

Brits have also taken other hill but under real pressure (several losses to this Bttn)

Huns occupy southern town (both side artillery targets visible)

Tigers support PzGrs as my PBI hide in woodland

A hard pounding for Brits in south sector

Churchill Mk VIIs have survived several salvoes but unable to reply as out of range

Overview from SW

This Brit Inf Coy will need support. 'Jabo' staged for photo as already expended earlier

Intial advances

Germans all motorized but delayed by river (crossing a half speed)

Tis allowed Brits to get to objective line quicker despite being on foot

However deployment crowded due to 'corner entry area'

And yes that is actually sunlight visible in N.Ireland almost first this year !!!!!!